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Britons may need visas for Europe travel

Press Association 11/09/2016Jack Maidment

The price of post-Brexit border control could be Britons having to apply for visas to travel to continental Europe, the Home Secretary has suggested.

Amber Rudd said reports the European Commission is considering plans for a visa program to operate across the Schengen free movement area is a "reminder" that the UK is in a "two way negotiation" with the EU as it seeks its divorce from Brussels.

She agreed that people would be "surprised" if they had to apply for a short-term visa to visit countries like France but insisted such a scheme could be rolled out.

"I think they (British citizens) would be surprised," she told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC One.

"I don't think it's particularly desirable but we don't rule it out because we have to be allowed a free hand to give the best negotiation."

Control over who comes to the UK was a central issue during the EU referendum campaign.

Rudd said the UK will be able to control its borders post-Brexit but stressed any measures introduced would have to be "reciprocal".

"Once we leave the European Union we will have complete control over who comes into the UK from the EU and who doesn't, with one or two provisos of course.

"First of all, it's going to be reciprocal, we are going to have to work out what's in the UK's interests as well going to the European Union and what works for our economy and making sure that we get the right balance.

"Looking across the whole spectrum is what's going to be the guiding principle."

She also reaffirmed the Tory manifesto commitment to cut immigration to the UK to the tens of thousands.

"I'm completely committed to making sure that we reduce it and yes, tens of thousands, although it will take some time," she said.

Rudd said it is "too early" to outline the specifics of how the government will achieve its target but she repeated the prime minister's rejection of an Australian-style points system.

However, she suggested a work permit system is being considered.

"Whether we look at a work permit system or another system is something that my department is looking at closely at the moment," she said.

She said a work permit system "certainly has value" and "we are not ruling anything out at the moment".

Rudd also addressed her comments from the referendum campaign when she said Boris Johnson was not the person you want to drive you home at the end of an evening out.

Following the suggestion that Johnson was now driving Brexit in his role as Foreign Secretary, Rudd said: "Boris is not the driver. Theresa May is the driver. The rest of us are in the car."